March Grower’s Calendar

Preparation
·  March is officially the first month of spring.  Hurrah!  It is a key month in the veg grower’s garden and the first of three exceptionally busy months

·  Continue to prepare ground - there is still time to prepare a plot or make a raised bed to grow vegetables this Summer - dig over the area, let the soil dry before you work it over with spade

·  In mild weather start to harden off seedlings by moving them outside during the day

·  Keep an eye out for frosts

In Season
Whether you’ve grown them yourself or not, the following produce (if you can get it) is seasonal:

Spring Cabbage, Leeks, Broccoli, Rhubarb, Apples, Potatoes, Onions, winter Lettuce, Kale, Spinach, Chard, Parsnips, Carrots

Sowing Seeds
·  Check the individual details on seed packets.
· Indoors on a sunny windowsill or heated greenhouse:  Lettuces, Aubergines, Peppers, Chillies, Cucumbers, Celery, Celeriac, Fennel, Sweet Corn, Basil, Leeks, Summer Cabbage & Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Parsley, Courgettes, French beans
· Outdoors under cover: broad beans, red cabbage, carrots cauliflower, spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, onions, leeks, carrots, turnip, peas, radishes, early lettuce, asparagus
· Flower Seeds for the Veg. garden - sow the seeds outdoors/polytunnel/greenhouse, directly into the soil - Calendula(Marigold), Centaurea(Cornflower), Nasturtium, these annuals will help deter aphids & white whitefly while attracting beneficial lacewings & ladybirds.
· Consider a seed growing group with friends or network members

Plant out
· Have you been chitting?  Plant your first early seed Potatoes, as soon as weather conditions allow.  Paddy’s Day traditionally.
· Plant Asparagus crowns and Globe Artichokes
· Plant out any plants raised indoors, now hardened off.  Protect initially with cloches.
· Plant Jerusalem Artichoke tubers (although not to everyone’s taste are very good for soups & stews.  Are very good for feeding pigs - a plot can be planted and when the artichokes mature (Dec. Jan. Feb.) can be left in the ground for the pigs to root out themselves. 

Routine Care
· Weed Control - hoe new-season weeds
· Prune old growth from perennial Herbs
· Finish pruning Apple trees
· Start your slug patrol

Harvesting
· The Hungry Gap
· Leeks, Sprouting Broccoli, Kale, Spinach (perpetual, spinach beet)
· Harvest first spring cauliflowers, spinach, swiss chard, spinach beet
Under cover - Lettuce, Rocket, Carrots (ready now from late Autumn planting)

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